Job Discussion Forums

[chenn0]

Here is my situation:

I'm dreaming of living in a Latin American country. Mexico is one of my top picks. I'm wanting to leave the U.S around May or June of 2010. However, I'm a very young lad (20 yrs). I have no degree in college (come next May I believe I would be eligible to have majored in Spanish, but I lack several basics at the Univ. level), and I am planning on getting TEFL certificate as soon as I move...also I have no teaching experience.

However, I do know a few people in Mexico who already said would help me out as much as they could...that's a plus. And I believe I could save enough money to go get my cert in mex and be fine for a couple of months.

I do also worry about not being able to work legally, not finding a place that would hire me, dificulties getting an apartment that i can afford, etc etc. I actually have seemingly endless doubts, questions, and worries. However, knowing this little tiny bit about me and my situation, can anyone with experience and knowledge tell me what they think ?

thank you very much

[geaaronson]

Finish that degree. It�s going to be difficult for you to finish it if you depart for Mexico and then return to the U.S. to finish it off.
Then get your TEFL certification and come down here. You�ll be in a much better situation.

[chenn0]

Is it completely necessary for one to have a degree to get a job, though? In what ways would it be difficult to complete it should I return?

thanks for the reply

[wildchild]

hey man,


coming down here without a degree, I wouldn't recommend it.

but it's your life, do what you will... you never know what just might happen...

[rrrjjjmmm]

I know a few people that have come down here without degrees and gotten perfectly reasonable jobs. And during the immigration process, degree certificates were never even requested from my partner and I. Just the TEFL.

It's really unpredictable here sometimes though, so do plenty of research on that!

[Oreen Scott]

In Mexioc I've met EFL teachers who have no credentials who work illegally, EFL teachers whose first language is English who have a minimal EFL certificate that personally I don't think is good enough, and how they use their mother tongue caused me to shutter.

Before coming to Mexico I upgraded my education by taking what in Canada ia called a CTESL which is only availabe at certain colleges and university who have been approved by a national body. While working full-time and going to university part-time I also volunteered in classrooms under the tutlage of qualified teachers.

I can teach English as an other language in my home country. Therefore I feel qualified to teach English as a foreign language in Mexico.

My point? You can get a job without training, experience or education. But, is that fair to your students, or the country you are working in?

[Phil_K]

Guilty!!!

Maybe my first students suffered, but I'd ask the OP to consider how deep his knowledge of English is - take an online test of English - and if he thinks he has the ability to teach it. I just sometimes feel that people get too hung up about qualifications. I took the route of no degree, no cert, etc - and I'm sitting in my office here lording it! The OP is 26 years younger - go for it - just have enough money to get back if necessary.

[Prof.Gringo]

[Prof.Gringo]

[wildchild]

[Prof.Gringo]

[wildchild]

yeah, sure man.

[Prof.Gringo]

[wildchild]

and how many who come here without degrees and fail???

maybe that's something you could learn a little about in college, statistics.

[Phil_K]